Turning Back the Pages

30 Years Ago - January 14, 1983 Monday morning, shortly after reports that the Gilpin RE-1 gym roof was making a lot of noise, a section about 20 feet wide, from the eave to the peak, was ripped off by the wind. Fred Meyers, school superintendent, dismissed school shortly after the incident and the school remained closed until Wednesday due to the danger of flying debris. There were no classes in the gym at the time the roof went. When repairs to this section of the roof were made last year, Meyers said he was told it would withstand 200 mph winds. The highest winds registered Monday morning were 50 mph. Black Hawk Marshal Sid Gent appeared before the regular meeting of the City Council on January 11 and asked if arrangements had been made to dig out the police car after heavy snowfalls. He said the police car was buried for two and a half days after the Christmas storm and that it really “burned” him that he personally paid $35 (later reimbursed by the city) to have the vehicle towed out. Five parked cars were hit Wednesday evening on Lawrence Street in Central City, near the old Clark gym. Three cars were sideswiped, a pickup was knocked into the center of the street and another car suffered damage to the front end. The driver who hit them has been arrested and charged for hit and run, driving under the influence of intoxicating beverages, failure to report an accident, possession of more than one but less than eight ounces of marijuana, and no proof of license. Representatives of Saratoga Mines, Inc. attended the Gilpin County Planning Commission Tuesday evening to request a special use permit for a cyanide heap leaching operation in Willis Gulch, which is southeast of Russell Gulch. Saratoga operates the Boodle Mill and has also operated the Frontenac and Toga mines which are currently shut. The Planning Commission voted to recommend approval to the Board of Commissioners. Cam Cullar, a ninth-grader at Gilpin School, was injured when he left the school building after school was dismissed Monday. His mother, Kay Cullar, said Cam was picked up by the wind in the parking lot and slammed into a parked car. When he got up, he was blown into another parked car. While student Lowell Allen was driving him home, he noticed that Cam’s jeans were torn at the knee and were soaking up blood. After looking at the injury, Allen rushed Cam to the clinic – 13 stitches were required. It may have been due to the pressure from Gilpin County customers, it may have been due to editorials in the Register-Call, or it may be due to other unknown reasons, but the U.S. Postal Service has announced that as of January 31, 1983, the Black Hawk Post Office will become an “intermediate” office for Rural Route 4. Although the route will still originate from Golden, people who wish to use an address of Rt. 4, Black Hawk, 80422, will now be allowed to do so without suffering a delivery delay. Because of the damage to the roof of the RE-1 gym, the Gilpin Eagle’s Homecoming basketball game with Nederland has been postponed till February. Neal and Pamela Standard of Missouri Lakes, are proud to announce the birth of their first child, Anthony John, born on January 5, 1983. The tax certificates on the four parcels of land owned by Equity Trading Corporation, headed by Arvey Drown, became the property of the County when the check Drown submitted during the second tax sale, held December 27, had failed to clear the bank. Drown is facing charges of swindling investors out of more than $7 million. In an effort to thwart any sort of legalized censorship action by the Central City Council, Bob Brusco of the Glory Hole Tavern, appeared at the Monday morning workshop meeting of the council to explain his position on Ladies Night. It turned out that the Council had no intention of censoring anybody. Brusco said he and his partner, Jay Katz, plan to have only four events a year involving strippers - two for women and two for men, and they have no intention of the Glory Hole becoming a “strip joint.” Jerry Smith, who mans the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s weather station on Fritz Peak, near Rollinsville, said he recorded winds of 100 mph at 7:18 a.m. on Monday morning. 60 Years Ago - January 16, 1953 T’would be wise to write a sonnet titled: “To a Tee-Shirt – in January,” considering the three days we’ve seen in January of around 70 degree temperatures. We are still without a doctor in Gilpin County, but it is reassuring to know that we have three qualified Red Cross First Aid instructors in our midst. Our county nurse Mrs. Ruth Rice has mastered artificial respiration. Mr. Ralph Calabrese and Mr. Gordon Jones, both teachers in Central City, share the honors with Mrs. Rice. Life is darn short - only four letters in it. Three-quarters of it is a “lie” and half of it is “if.” The old-age pension will be $109 for January, but it will drop back to $85 for February. Recapitulation of the bills audited and ordered paid by the County Commissioners on January 5 th : Contingent Fund, $157.94; County Fund, $2,013.17; Road and Bridge Fund, $2,001.98; P.W.A. fund, $564.64; Poor Fund, $362.62; Fire Fund, $121.26. Grand Total, $8,021.61. Some people are inconsiderate enough to become peeved when others appraise them at their real worth. A year ago the Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Co., had a pretty big telephone system in Colorado, but it wasn’t big enough to reach all the people who wanted telephone service. It will cost about $25 million this year for the telephone company to keep pace with Colorado’s rapid expansion. Beginning next Monday, the federal government will start making its income tax collections. Colorado is supposed to chip in about $600,000,000. That is about 3 ½ times as much as needed to run the state government. A Central City gentleman, in the true spirit of Christmas, prepared his list, selected his gifts and wrapped them appropriately. But the gay little tags, hopping about in a flurry of yuletide excitement, became attached to bundles for which they were never intended. Imagine, if you can, this gentleman’s embarrassment when his mother opened a neat little package which contained a little train - his father was more than a little surprised to receive “The Bobsy Twins at the Seashore.” The little neighbor girl was somewhat abashed at her pipe and slippers gift, and tough little Johnnie swore he’d never wear those flimsy nylon hose and that other silk thing-a-ma-jig he found under the tree. Johnnie figured Rudy the Reindeer wasn’t the only one who was “red-nosed” on Christmas Eve. A taxi driver advertised: “Tell us where you are - that’s all we want to know. We’ll take you where you want to go safely, comfortably.” He got a fast letter from 22 soldiers in Korea: “We are 16 miles north of the 38 th parallel on the main supply route, third foxhole on the right, off in a rice paddy with very little water in it. Please pick us up as soon as possible.” 90 Years Ago - January 12, 1923 The newly elected County officers were on deck last Tuesday afternoon, to assume charge of County affairs for the next two years. Their bonds were approved by the County Commissioners and they lost no time in getting to work. Thursday afternoon of last week, a genuine January blizzard struck these parts of the hills (Apex), piling the falling snow in deeper drifts than at any time during the winter. Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, the mail came in on horseback. On Wednesday, two men (Danielson and Baer), shoveled out the road so a horse-drawn vehicle could plow through the drifts. A party of gentlemen were in Idaho Springs Thursday looking up the possibilities of placing an electric smelter unit here. It is understood that they have made arrangements to take over the Argo Mill and remodel it into an electric, and that arrangements have been made to not only treat all ore from the mines now working, but to develop and operate other properties along the tunnel, with a view to producing enough mineral to keep a 50-ton plant operating continuously. Lionel Barrymore in “Jim, the Penman,” in six reels will be the picture at the Opera House, Saturday evening. The back taxes on the Perigo group of mines, having been paid at the County offices Wednesday, the new company which will operate the Perigo indicate that work will commence at once in putting the property in shape for extensive working. This group of claims is among the largest in Gilpin County, is well equipped with shaft buildings, and a first class stamp mill, and records show the mineral worked out in former years was above the average in both values and size of deposits, of any group of mines in the county. The man who wrote “Blow, Ye Gentle Breeze” never lived in this part of the country. He is in the same class as the author who wrote “Beautiful Snow,” who evidently lived in Florida. However, it will soon be summer. France has decided to march an army into Germany, in protest for not living up to the Versailles Treaty, concerning payments due that country. On the strength of such actions, President Harding has ordered all American troops which have been guarding the banks of the Rhine, to prepare to get out of the country and come back home. Hot air is never the result of cold deliberation. Recapitulation of the county bill ordered paid by County Commissioners on January 8: County Fund, $2,768.21; Pauper Fund, $302.95; Road Fund, $421.60; Contingent Fund, $315. Grand Total, $3,807.76. Every time the people kick about the high cost of living, the darned thing takes another jump. Let’s kick the other way. The Black Hawk Fire Department gave a card party, followed by refreshments, at the city hall on Thursday evening of last week, being the annual blow-out and social time held by that organization. Officials of the Caribou Metals Company announced that a new silver vein, eighteen inches in width and assaying 137 ounces, has been discovered at their mine. Two more veins were found when the Boulder County Tunnel was being recleaned and timbered, they said. The latter veins are not so productive, one assaying fifty-seven ounces and the other twenty ounces. The first vein discovered in the Caribou Mine was unearthed in a hanging wall at a depth of 1,040 feet. Extensive plans for this year are being made by the company which will include a tunnel from the Boulder County shaft to the Caribou Mine. The tunnel, officials declared, will cut into twenty seven known and proved veins. Charles Gage, manager of the Wain Mine, in Chase Gulch, shipped a carload of ore on Monday last to Idaho Springs for treatment in the concentration mills at that point. The contractors working on the flume in Black Hawk are making good headway, and are pushing work as rapidly as possible while the pleasant weather prevails. The star which has been seen in Denver during the daylight period, has been located by people of this city, and can be seen every morning, long after the sun has shown itself. Governor Sweet was inaugurated into office on Tuesday noon, and his message delivered before both House and Senate, was well received, and offered many good suggestions for the benefit of the state, and the taxpayers who furnish the money to help keep the state machinery in motion. Claude McKay and company, who are operating the Jennie Blanche Mine in the lower part of this city, shipped a carload of smelting ore the first of the week to the Leadville smelter. Funny, isn’t it, that a man who thinks he is a business man, will get up in the morning from an advertised mattress, shave with advertised soap, take off advertised pajamas and put on advertised underwear, advertised hose and shirt, tie, advertised suit, sit himself at a table and eat advertised breakfast, drink advertised coffee or substitute, put on an advertised hat and light an advertised cigar and go to his place of business where he turns down the advertising solicitor or salesman for his home newspaper on the grounds that advertising does not pay. Begin saving your pennies. Another Christmas is less than a year away. 120 Years Ago - January 13, 1893 Twenty-seven coal miners were killed by an explosion at the Union Pacific coal mine at King, four miles from Como, on January 10 th . Sheriff Thomas Hooper returned from Cheyenne last Saturday morning, bringing back with him John McGinnis and Frank Cheatley, who were apprehended there for holding up Frank Matusick at a Pine Street courtesan’s on Sunday evening, January 1, 1893. Seth Morgan, a 40-year-old attorney, married a 13 year-old forward girl of Highlands, near Denver, a few days ago, and has already brought suit for divorce. In some communities such fellows would be promptly dealt with. He was arrested for bigamy, gave bond, and was shot at by the irate father of the child bride. The bigamist has skipped leaving his bondsman in the lurch. While delivering goods at a residence on High Street, Black Hawk, last Saturday, Hugh Edwards, driver for the Sauer-McShane Mer. Co., in coming down from that street to Church Street, his wagon lurched around and the wagon, horses, driver and two lads who were in the wagon, went over the embankment and landed on the railroad track near the suspension bridge which spans Gregory Street. Edwards’ right leg was badly bruised, both lads sustaining light injuries on the face and one of the horses hurt, but not seriously. The surface pocket of gold ore recently opened up on the Spur-Daisy, which is yielding so largely at present of the yellow metal, is the largest found in Gilpin County for years, and we hope the rich chimney of ore may continue to a great depth. The water commissioner of Central City reports that there is now 8 ½ feet of water in the Eureka Street reservoir and that the reservoir on Academy Hill is nearly full. Some of the people of the hamlets of Gilpin County are already laying up money with which to go to the World’s Fair. The promoters of the Silver Point Tunnel, out in Vermillion District, are now engaged in drifting on a vein cut by their tunnel several months ago. Samples of ore taken out when the vein was interested show it to have a value of about $135 per ton. Quite a force of miners are working on company account in the New California Mine on Quartz Hill. The point of explorations is between the 700 and 800 foot west levels. Born: In Central City, January 10, 1893, to the wife of Joseph Higman, a son. The souvenir spoon fad has spent itself. A Gilpin County politician wept like a little child and had nervous prostration when he read that most of the $265,000,000 subscribed for the Panama Canal had gone into the pockets of legislators. Mr. J. E. Lightbourn is adding a second story to the stable which he started last fall on Gregory Street. It is of lumber but will be covered with sheet iron, as provided for by ordinance, it being within the fire limits of the city. If the young lady who sent an anonymous letter to Bart Knight, of this city, will only sign her name to the next one, so that he may know who makes charges against him, he would esteem it a great favor, and is prepared to prove the accusations false in every particular. A western editor got the bulge on delinquent subscribers by placing their names upside down when publishing items about them. There was a rush to pay up. The girls had 366 good days to propose in last year, and if those who failed to improve the opportunity fill old maid’s graves, unhonored, unwept and unsung, they have only themselves to blame. Mr. Matthias Mack has commenced securing an ice crop for use in his brewery next summer. He has constructed a car which runs from his main ice house direct to the pond where it is cut. The car is loaded with ice by means of a long sweep pole to which is attached grappling hoods. The school teachers are said to be generally opposed to free books, they argue that the children are very destructive anyway, and when the parents buy the books the majority of the children never seem to think of taking care of them. If books were furnished by the state, the wonton destruction of them by the children would be enormous. Free schools are a necessity; free books are not in but few cases. A business man’s motto: Early to bed and early to rise, Hustle all day and advertise. 135 Years Ago - January 12, 1878 Mr. A. G. Rhoads this morning turned out his first crackers since opening his old place in the Black Hawk Cracker Works. We sampled them while they were yet warm, and found them to be fully up to the standard. Church Street, Black Hawk, is looking up. Johnnie Pursell has a neat frame residence nearly completed, while Z. Myres and Wm. Germain are both grading for the purpose of building. The former will build a brick, and the latter is undecided whether he will build a brick or frame. M. F. Bebee is also grading a lot on the same street.

Patrick Henry Sweeney

Related Posts

Keep the High Country Clean: Your Complete Guide to Waste Management with Timberline Disposal

When the Lights Go Out: Why Power Outages Are Becoming Part of Daily Life

Craig Station’s Final Chapter: Can Federal Intervention Save Moffat County’s Economic Lifeline?

Central City Has Never Been Afraid of Big Moments. Until Now.

Colorado’s Quiet Watch: How Real ID, License-Plate Cameras, and Ring Doorbells Are Building a Shadow Surveillance State—and What Citizens Can Still Do to Opt Out

About Us

Quick Links

News Categories

Weekly Newsletter

Welcome Back!

Retrieve your password

Are you sure want to unlock this post?

Are you sure want to cancel subscription?